AMED - Sabiha Aslan is the sistor of Veysi Aktaş, a prisoner in İmralı, who was in the photo frame of the historic call made by PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan. "For there to be a solution, their physical freedom must be ensured. The Kurdish people have taken a step and now it is the state's turn to take the second step," she said.
The Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party İmralı Delegation announced Abdullah Öcalan's call for “Peace and Democratic Society” after their meeting with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Before the call, a photograph of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, Ömer Hayri Konar, Veysi Aktaş and Hamili Yıldırım together with the 7-member İmralı Delegation was released to the press.
Sabiha Aslan, the sister of Veysi Aktaş, who was among those who watched the call in Amed's (Diyarbakır) Sheikh Said Square, stated that seeing her brother's photo after 4 years aroused emotions that are impossible to explain. Sabiha Aslan said, "When I saw the photograph, my heart felt like it would stop. I was extremely touched and wanted to cry. I was both sad and happy. We should feel these emotions by travelling to İmralı once a month and seeing my brother. However, we have not been able to do this for years. As far as we can see from the photograph, there are physical changes. Both my brother and his friends look very handsome. My brother has gained some weight, it may be due to his illnesses."
‘IT WAS SOMETHING VERY HEAVY’
Stating that she listened to the historic call with tens of thousands of people in Square, Sabiha Aslan said, "I saw the photograph in the square. Many people sent it to me by phone. Even people I don't know sent me the photo. It was something very heavy. I couldn't sleep last night. I always saw his photographs in front of my eyes. The delegation still has not called us, we are waiting for them to call us."
Referring to the historical call, Sabiha Aslan said, "I do not see anything wrong with this call. this opportunity should be utilised. This is an opportunity not only for us but for the whole Middle East. When Leader says something, he thinks very broad, deep and long term. It is wrong to say that this call was made only to the Kurdish and Turkish people. The fate of European states also depends on a democratic transformation in the Middle East. Mr Öcalan has been in the struggle for 45 years and it is not right or appropriate for us to say anything based on his words. Mr Öcalan knows what we do not see and do not know. Whatever he has said so far, whatever he has deduced has come true. The state should take this seriously. This is the fate of the peoples. Serious steps must be taken."
‘THEY MUST BE PHYSICALLY FREE NOW’
"Until today, Kurds have made gains thanks to Mr Öcalan," said Sabiha Aslan and added: "Some of those who are not hurt and sleep comfortably at home oppose this and talk nonsense. Let there be peace, but the values and the rights demanded must be recognised. We haven't seen our brother for years. No one has the right to continue this. Not only me, but the families of all those who stay there cannot see their relatives. They need to be free now. Their freedom is being stolen, this is theft. My brother's execution has been over for a year, but he is not released. His 31 years will end in April. We will soon apply to go to İmralı. Their intentions will be clear from their response to this application. For there to be a solution, their physical freedom must be ensured. The Kurdish people have taken a step, now it is the state's turn to take the second step. We will wait and see whether the step they will take will be positive or negative. We have seen the photo of the statement, we would like to see the video. It will be more beautiful to look at the face. The video will give us and the society a greater morale."
MA / Müjdat Can